SilkAir is Singapore Airlines’ wholly owned regional subsidiary. They operate a fleet of 33 narrowbody aircraft, including Airbus A320 family and Boeing 737 aircraft, though over time they plan to switch to an all Boeing fleet, as they have a further 32 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft on order.
Continue reading: SilkAir Merging With Singapore Airlines & Getting Flat Beds In Business Class
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Sounds better for the long term. SIA will have the best products for both regional and long haul markets. Their competitors should be worried.
Wondering what will happen with the SIN-DIL flight.
That MI flight is currently not integrated in the rest of the SQ/MI network. Only bookable point to point.
I admit I'm a layman regarding the specific issue of airplane seat fabrication, so I'm always surprised when I read something that suggests a supplier is having a hard time meeting demand or they're having production issues (as we've seen with United's Polaris seats). What about the airplane seat production process makes it so prone to delays and complications? Of course some of the newer seats incorporate electronics and complex mechanicals for the beds, but it still doesn't seem like a product that would require huge lead times. What am I missing?
That’s more a negative than positive development really. Right now Silk flies short 1-3 hr hops which really have zero need for full flat bed.
Seems with the MAX more 737 super-narrow bodies will replace wide bodies on 5h+ flights. That’s what this really means.
I'm flying MI later today (codeshare with SQ as they don't operate HKT flights) and have just attained *A Gold. Called them up last week about *A Gold benefits and they just flatly said "we're not a *A airline so there's no benefits unless you're KF Gold and above". Guess I'm two years too early 🙁
You suggest that current silk air routes (I would like to use United miles to fly from Canada to Siem Reap, the last segment Singapore to Siem Reap is a current silk air route) won’t be bookable as star alliance flights for some time — are we talking years?
Koh Samui sees x2 daily service on a SilkAir A319. Runway classification (and Bangkok Airways) prohibit anything larger to land here. Should be interesting if SilkAir keeps their tiny 319 fleet alive or terminate service altogether to USM, like TG is doing this September.
—JRL
They don't need to do it actually. SQ can transfer Max 8 to TR like their 772.
Upgrading the entire Silk Air fleet is great news. Last year I flew Silk Air between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. I think it was an Airbus on each segment. Well, anyway, the seats and interiors were dirty and worn. I couldn't believe this company was in any way related to SQ. The interior was truly shabby.
My city is serviced only by SilkAir to SIN. I for one, will be glad to see it go and hopefully be replaced by SQ levels of service.
A long overdue move, similar to what they did with the integration of Tiger Air and Scoot.
I hope the B737 will get seats like Philippine Airlines A321:
https://dreamtravelonpoints.com/philippine-airlines-receiving-new-airbus-a350-and-a321neo-with-fully-flat-business-class-seats/
Will be interesting to see the routes for the lie-flat B737...
Good news. Product consistency. MI becoming SQ and therefore Star Alliance member. MI should definitely consider flat bed and not lie flat seats! If it is a herringbone seat or the Thompson Vantage seat, it is a very good move on the SQ group. This puts pressure on the competitors like CX, TG, GA, MH etc..
@CS Silk Air also flies to a number of places in excess of 3 hrs eg. Cairns 6hrs 30mins+, Hiroshima 6hrs 15mins, Darwin & Changsha 4rs 40 mins each, Kolkata 4hrs+, etc
@Myles wait, we're talking about a regional fleet. Not a flagship one. I don't know your obsession with flat bed for such a short flight. GA wouldn't need that kind of luxury, for their narrowbody fleet was intended for domestic flight.
@J Dee. Thank you. I didn't realise Cairns was Silk Air too. 6h30min is indeed ridiculous on their equipment. Seat upgrade definitely useful!
I've flown silk air a couple of times. Although not SIA standard, the soft product was very good. Better than any US carrier.
My Silk Air flights have always been credited back to my SQ Kris Flyer account - presumably points that can be redeemed on Star Alliance? (I get that the reverse isn’t currently possible).
@ Emily -- That's correct, KrisFlyer members have long received full benefits on SilkAir, but it hasn't been possible to receive other Star Alliance benefits, or to earn and redeem other Star Alliance miles on SilkAir.
@Zie
Why just be satisfied with simple recliners? Do not you aspire better for your life? Or are just a follower which do not have any aspirations for your life or money?? SQ will be launching or has already launched the new regional seatings with flat bed! So why not install flat beds with MI? I want the best for my money and for me! And I am certainly not here to please the airlines but expecting from them the service which I have paid for!! ..so you are saying!!
Everybody seems to think it is a sensible move. Sure, but what's not sensible is installing lie-flat beds on 737s that fly routes such as Singapore-Jakarta.
Is that society nowadays where you need a flat bed to fly for 2 hours? It's just a waste of money and customers will of course pay for it. Let's not be naive.
To everyone who thinks a flat bed is too much for regional routes, than fly Economy and LCC and feel free to restrain yourself!
The Asian market have huge portions of pax who are willing to pay the premium price..just to have more space, luxury/exclusivity and most of all DISTINCTION!
Do not let me start with class distinction within the Asian society! This might invoke some inferiority complexe on your side! European/North American egalitarian attitude is a whole different world.
Sensible enough or not..the airlines want those yields! They want revenue from pax and not only cheapos or redemption vultures!
Ben-as you mentioned towards the end of your post, the big issue/question/need is the ability to earn and credit miles to other *A carriers. I just completed the 1st of many Biz class flights from SFO to Hyderabad, India via Singapore on a tix bought from, marketed and with SQ flight numbers, with the connecting flight codeshare on Silk. I was surprised to find out that those flight miles aren’t credited to United despite being the regional carrier for SQ.
Why do you think they are waiting for the cabin retrofits to happen before the merger, and thus the ability to earn *A miles? Couldn’t that be initiated beforehand? Thanks.
It means more Star Alliance awards being made available to SilkAir (but not Singapore's) destinations. Looking forward to more destinations and seats served using other *A FF programs.